Open Calls for Submission

PLEASE NOTE: If you don't follow the submission instructions, it is likely your submission will be lost in a morass of email. Please use the form at the link even if you know one of the editors personally. WE ARE ONLY ACCEPTING LISTED ANTHOLOGY SUBMISSIONS AT THIS TIME. WE HOPE TO REOPEN TO NOVELS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

Closed Calls

HAUNTED FUTURESWe're looking for short, genre fiction which interprets the phrase 'haunted futures.' For general guidelines, see this page.Call posted: 19 September 2014 Updated 21 NovemberDeadline: CLOSED July 15, 2015 (We'll then have a reading period. If we don't have enough suitable stories, we'll run a second call.)The book to contain stories by several notable writers. 3000 to 8000 words -- let the story control the length more than vice versa. The most suitable genres will be variations or combinations of sci fi, fantasy, thriller or mystery. We are not trying to scare the audience as with traditional horror. Haunted here is used more in the Romantic sense. (Haunted by the thought of, or haunted by his past, etc.)

Stories must be both excellent and suitable for an audience that enjoys the work of the notable authors who are to be included in the book. Outside of these primary concerns, we would also like to see more submissions from women and people underrepresented in traditional genre publishing.

Advance plus 50% royalties. Exact amount depends on the number of stories we accept. Stories must never have been published or self-published. email complete manuscript (and cover letter if you wish) to submissions at gwdbooks.comPlease put the following in the subject line of your email:HAUNTED FUTURES - [insert story title] - [insert author's surname]Read more about Haunted Futures and the notable authors contributing!

CTHULHU LIES DREAMINGWe're looking for short fiction for a new cosmic horror (a subset of dark fantasy) anthology.Call posted: 24 October 2014Deadline:Closed(Reading period.)Story length: 3,000 to 8,000 words. Lovecraft-styled cosmic horror with a modern sensibility, by which we mean without the lengthy passages of exposition and racial biases that were common in Lovecraft's day.

The case for eBooks

Despite what you may think, author’s royalties on printed books are generally pretty bad. They can be as low as $0.15 a copy, and even with horrible advances at just $3000 or below, books not on the A* list often don’t earn out their advance. It’s a complicated issue, but the sad truth is that everyone wants a big chunk of the sales price, and the author is right at the bottom of the pile. Unless they’re celebs, of course. But we’re not, and we assume you’re not, either.

Publishing eBooks gives a chance to cut out several stages of the feeding frenzy. Publication costs are also minimal, which helps reduce overheads. There are no print or shipping costs. Despite this, mainstream publishers have a tendency to grossly overprice electronic copies of their books, and it is really annoying readers.

Electronic retailers take between 15% and 50% of the cover price. This is pretty huge, but even in the worst cases — like Kobo — it still leaves a reasonable amount of money per sale, and that money is profit. That profit deserves to be split equally, because despite publishers’ opinions, writing a book is hard work that deserves a fair reward.

The Ghostwoods Books approach

We’re looking for top-quality novels and non-fiction works to publish, initially electronically, at a reader-friendly price, usually somewhere between $4.99 and $5.99. All books will be thoroughly developed and edited before publication, as you’d expect. They’ll be properly laid out, ISBN’ed, and given attractive covers. Then they’ll be listed with every useful eBook publisher out there. We may record them as audiobooks, too. We’ll back all this up with promotion and marketing, review copies, press releases, submission to all relevant major awards and competitions, and lots of info as to how you can also help promote your work effectively.As of 2014, we've started doing print editions of all book length manuscripts.

Ghostwoods Books will only publish genuinely good books. No ifs, no buts, no back-handers. Particularly in eBook publishing, it’s vital to build a reliable reputation. The Ghostwoods Books seal will guarantee a top-quality publication. That’s worth more than a whole palette of bus-stop posters and corny marketing stunts.